1. College/Career English Skills
How do we use writing in our everyday lives?
What is college writing?
What is the Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing?

2. Agenda
Class Activity: Writing in the “real” world; writing as a student.
Group Activity: What are the features of college writing?
Quarter 1 Essential Question/Learning Goals

3. Class Activity – Writing in Our Everyday Lives
Fold a clean sheet of paper into 4 quadrants
Label each quadrant one of the following categories:
Social
Workplace
Academic
Personal
Write as many examples of “types of writing” that you do regularly (and categorize them by quadrant)
EX: Writing the menu changes on the blackboard at your job would fall under “workplace”

4. Sharing
Turn to a shoulder partner and share the different types of writing that you came up with
If you discover your partner thought of ideas that apply to your life as well (that you left off), please add them to your brainstorm

5. Let’s hear what you came up with 
Results
Let’s hear what you came up with 

6. Class Activity – What is college writing? What should you expect?
In your table groups… 1.First, please formally introduce yourselves to each other (if students don’t know each other’s names) 2. Second, plan to introduce each other to the class. Introduce a person with his or her name, where he or she is from, and an interest/hobby – something that gives us a sense of the person. 3. Third, discuss the questions: “What is college writing?” “What English skills are needed in careers today?” “What concerns do we have?” 4. Fourth, report out

7. De-brief - What is college writing?
Presents an academic response to an academic prompt; generally presents an argument or explanation (exposition).
Essay structure expected.
Contains clear thesis statement and topic sentences.
Clear, specific, and reasonable convincing evidence supports claims and subclaims.
Written in a more formal, academic tone.
Written in a richer, more descriptive vocabulary than informal writing.
Awareness of contrasting points of view. (“You are joining an existing conversation.”)
Correctness matters.

8. English Skills in the Workplace
Let’s create a list of the skills that will be essential to YOUR future careers!

9. College Writing/Career Writing Involves the Study and Practice of Writing and Reading Rhetorically. So what is “Rhetoric”?

10. Basic definition Rhetoric is:
SITUATED COMMUNICATION (rhetorical situation)
Communication in some context
The art of speaking or writing effectively and persuasively in a particular context
(context = a social space, i.e., classroom, work environment, dinner gathering)
Forms of communication that are shaped by a particular social situation
Rhetor’s purpose: to inform, to persuade, to entertain

11. Example: Studying Rhetoric in Politics
Studying the “rhetoric” of political speeches might include:
Understanding how politicians use language to persuade
Looking at their non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, hand movements, etc.
Considering how politicians use tone and intonation to get a rise out of the audience

12. Expanding the Definition of “Text”
Studying the “rhetoric” of some text means understanding all relevant communicative devices
(a “text” = anything that communicates, not just written texts)
-this includes written devices, spoken devices, nonverbal gestures, or actual objects (i.e. an outfit)

13. Examples of “Texts” Studying the “rhetoric” of hip-hop could include:
Analyzing song lyrics, beats, styles of hip-hop
Considering clothing styles
Thinking about messages
Considering how rap videos define hip-hop culture
(in other words, we’d study different rhetorical “moves” or “strategies” that define hip-hop)

14. College writing often entails reading rhetorically and writing rhetorically.
Studying the “rhetoric” of a “text”
Author purpose, intended audience, and author ethos
Rhetorical elements a writer uses to achieve his or her purpose
pattern of organization (narrative, cause/effect, definition, etc.)
rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, ethos)
types of evidence (facts, statistics, expert testimony, narratives, observational description, etc.)
diction (persuasive, connotative language, and biased language; specific and descriptive word choice; figurative language; active verbs, etc.)
syntax (sentence structure such as sentence length and variety; repetition)

15. So . . . what does it take to achieve success in college writing?
Rodin’s “The Thinker,” Image from Wikipedia
The answer might surprise you . . .

16. The Habits of Mind: Write the bolded words down on the BACK of your 4 quadrants brainstorm
Curiosity – the desire to know more about the world.
Openness – the willingness to consider new ways of being and thinking in the world.
Engagement – a sense of investment and involvement in learning.
Creativity – the ability to use novel approaches for generating, investigating, and representing ideas.
Persistence – the ability to sustain interest in and attention to short- and long-term projects.
Responsibility – the ability to take ownership of one’s actions and understand the consequences of those actions for oneself and others.
Flexibility – the ability to adapt to situations, expectations, or demands.
Metacognition – the ability to reflect on one’s own thinking as well as on the individual and cultural processes used to structure knowledge.

17. Quarter 1 Essential Questions/Learning Goals

18. Essential Questions
How can literature/non-fiction works influence the world around us?

19. Major Texts/Projects Beowulf
Refreshing/Perfecting our Writing On Demand skills
Strengthening our Grammar/Vocabulary
College Application Essays (writing a narrative)
The Canterbury Tales
Conduct short and sustained research that leads to informative essays/projects
EQ: How has literature like Beowulf/ The Canterbury Tales influenced the world we know today?
EQ: How can our grammar/vocabulary influence our success in our post-secondary pursuits?
EQ: How can written narratives influence our admission to college?
EQ: How can sources influence our own research projects?

20. Learning Goals Read and comprehend complex literature
Determine themes/central ideas from literature
Students will be able to draw evidence from literary and/or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.
Conduct research
Create clear and cohesive writing (narrative writing, synthesis of research, Writing on Demands)
Strengthen our technology skills (Word/Databases/Internet/PowerPo

21. Exit Slip – On the BACK of your 4 quadrants brainstorm, write:
2 personal strengths from “Framework’s” habits of mind (be sure to offer one piece of evidence/ a specific example to support or illustrate each habit)
1 target for improvement from “habits” list; (again provide one piece of evidence to show you could use improvement)
Write your MLA heading on the upper right hand corner of the paper and submit.